Sprint queen Storm Bird again displayed her dominance of the local race horses when she easily disposed of the competition in the Better Way Entertainment Presidential Cup horse meet on New Year’s Day at the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice.
Jockey Razack (in white) piloted Storm Bird to a comfortable win in the feature event
In the feature event of the meet, the one-mile race for horses classified ‘C and Lower’, this top horse of the Habibulla Stables, being piloted by Jockey Razack, lit up the Rising Sun racing turf with blistering speed from the get-go to clinch the $700,000 first prize that went along with a trophy.
The crowd had been buzzing for favourite horse Don’t Overlook, but Storm Bird’s blistering pace consigned Don’t Overlook to second position, while TNT rode in third and Lucky Star came in fourth.
Racing fans had come out in their numbers to witness some spectacular horses compete in this Presidential Cup horse meet, and the event was blessed with scorching sunshine. Nobody could justifiably claim disappointment at the action, except in the event that their favoured horse had disappointed.
Uprising won the first event of the day (Brandon Corlette photos)
Commencing the day’s events, Uprising took the top spot in the K Class/J Class non-winners’ race for 2018-2019, bagging the $175,000 first prize as he finished ahead of Sunday Silencer, Touch My Cash, and Secret Flyer in that order.
In the second race of the day, 2019 champion jockey Colin Ross piloted Perfect Pleasure to a comfortable victory in the 2-Year-Old event.
Perfect Drift came in second position while Symbol and Holy Night completed the top four finishers in that race.
In the third event of the meet, Chameli won the G Class and Lower Race by the closest of margins, clinching the $350,000 cash prize and trophy.
A bit of controversy ensued between the handlers of Chameli and Santa Cruz Lady, but the former was declared the winner, while TNT came in third position, inches behind the second-positioned Santa Cruz Lady.
Chameli (centre) sealed victory by the narrowest of margins in the G Class and Lower race
In the ‘I Class and Lower’ event, which was the fourth race of the day, Not this Time, piloted by jockey Colin Ross, cruised to victory over 1600 metres, bagged for its handlers the $300,000 cash prize and trophy. Miss Olympic came in second position, while Valentina rode in third and Sunday Silencer finished in fourth.
Meanwhile, Cherish Me sealed the first position in the ‘L Class Open’ race and uplifted the first price purse of $150,000. Song Bird rode in second, while First Prince and Touch D Cash followed in that order.
